Dance Faculty

JANICE BARRINGER

Ballet

Janice received her early training in her native Florida before moving to New York to pursue a dance career. She studied with numerous teachers there as well as in Europe, but David Howard was her primary teacher since his years at Harkness House.

As a performer for twenty years, she was principal dancer with Baltimore City Ballet, the Maryland Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Annapolis and performed with New York Dance Theater. Later, she and her partner, Edward Stewart, appeared as guest artists in companies around the country and at Kennedy Center. During her career Janice was spotlighted in a Public Television special, “Dance in America”, was in performances honoring two U.S. Presidents, was spokesperson and lead dancer in a Kymberly Clark commercial as well as danced with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in educational concerts.

As a teacher, Janice has taught for Harkness House, Ballet Hispanico, Steps on Broadway, The Ailey School as well as been guest master teacher in many schools in the U.S., Canada, China and Towson State University summer program. She presently is on the staff of The Pace University Dance Department in NYC.

In 1990 the First Edition of “The Pointe Book” (about pointe shoes and pointe training and written by Janice) was published by Princeton Book Company. Since then she has written the 2nd and 3rd Editions as well as co-authored a book, En Pointe, with Thalia Mara about pointe shoes and the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. She has also written approximately 50 articles and 9 cover stories for Dancer, Dance, Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit and Pointe magazines. In 2013, the third edition of "The Pointe Book" was printed in Japanese.

Creator of many musical CD’s for use in ballet classes with accompanying instructional DVD’s, Janice is also the author of a 9 grade Ballet Syllabus for MusicWorks, headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

MELISSA BARTUCCI

Ballet

Born in San Antonio and raised in San Diego, Melissa Bartucci began her classical ballet training at the Vladimir Marek Ballet Academy under the direction of Vladimir Marek and Nancy Smith. Melissa followed her passion for ballet across the country to New York with her award of a full scholarship to train at the Joffrey Ballet School in Manhattan. At the Joffrey School Melissa trained under Trinette Singleton, Dorothy Lister, Luis Fuente, and the late John Magnus. During her time at the school Melissa also served as assistant instructor for the Joffrey Ballet School’s youth ballet programs. In addition to her studies and work at Joffrey, Melissa also trained on full scholarship at Steps of Broadway under Michael Vernon and Wilhelm Burmann.

Melissa’s professional dance career has included guest performances with several companies including Staten Island Ballet and Ballet West. Following her guest work Melissa became a Principal Dancer with the Eglevsky Ballet under the direction of Jane Miller Gifford. As a principal with Eglevsky, Melissa performed a diverse range of roles including classical Balanchine, contemporary, and several premiere works created and choreographed specifically for her. Melissa was individually selected and honored to dance at the opening ceremonies of the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan under the direction of Gen Horiuchi.

Upon retiring from active performance Melissa remained in New York raising a family and transitioning to both teaching professional and dance photographer. Melissa’s unique photography portfolio focuses on the choreographic process and creation of new works. From behind her lens Melissa has captured imagery from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Tom Gold Dance, Norbert De La Cruz III, The DASH Ensemble, CURRENT Sessions, Joffrey Concert Group, and RIOULT. Melissa is currently the Assistant Director for Nomad Contemporary Ballet serving as both coach and rehearsal mistress. Melissa currently serves on the teaching faculty for the Eglevsky Ballet School under the direction of Maurice Brandon Curry.

ARIELLA GOLDBERG

Ariella Goldberg began her training in Syracuse, NY and continued her studies at Princeton Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Ms. Goldberg attended the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College performing works by George Balanchine, Stanton Welsh, Betti-Jane Sills and Stephanie Tooman.

She realized her passion for teaching children in 2003 when the opportunity opened to assist pre-ballet and pre-professional classes at Ballet Academy East where she is now a senior faculty member. Ms. Goldberg attended the CPYB teacher training seminar led by Marcia Dale Weary. She also serves as a children's Ballet Master for Dances Patrelle's "The Yorkville Nutcracker." Miss Goldberg looks forward to working with the faculty and students of the Eglevsky Ballet School.

SHANA GOLDBERGER

Children's Ballet Mistress

Having trained in numerous styles of dance, as an educator, Shana Goldberger has kept her primary focus on classical ballet and instilling proper technique to her students.

She began her professional ballet training at Eglevsky Ballet and continued at the Seiskaya Ballet. While there, Shana performed features roles in "The Nutcracker," "Paquita," and other ballets. During this time, Shana was one of sixty students selected to attend the NY State Summer School of the Arts. There she studied with Damien Wowtzal, Ashley Bouder, Daniel Ulbricht, Jenifer Ringer and others. Shana graduated high school early to accept a full scholarship to the trainee program at Joffrey Ballet School.

Shana Goldberger is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Adelphi University with a BFA in Dance. While there, she created many roles in ballets by Christopher Fleming, Frank Augustyn, Leda Meredith, Orion Duckstein, Jacques Cesbron, David Parsons, Jennifer Kreichman and Maurice Brandon Curry.

Previously, Shana has been on faculty at USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. She is also the founder and director of the Massapequa Tabernacle Praise and Worship Team that has traveled internationally and also won awards at the Staten Island Gospel Festival three consecutive years. Most recently, Shana has successfully completed her training in the ABT National Training Curriculum and is a certified teacher in Primary through Level Three.

GRETCHEN GUNTHER

Ballet

Gretchen Gunther began her training on Long Island, and continued at the Joffrey School, Melissa Hayden School, and as a scholarship student at Steps in New York City. During her professional career she also studied with Larissa Luvisicuk, Ilya Gaft, and Victoria Lebedeva of the Kirov Ballet.

As a professional, she has danced with The Classics Dance Theatre of Connecticut, New Jersey Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Ilya Gaft Dance Theatre, and North Atlantic Ballet. She has worked with many independent choreographers as well.

With over 20 years experience teaching all levels of classical ballet, Ms. Gunther teaches both pre-professional and technique classes at The School at Steps. Many of her students have graduated from the school and gone on to careers in dance. She has also taught at the Ailey School, The School of Staten Island Ballet, and others throughout the Tri-State area. In 2013, she was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine in an article on alignment for young dancers.

To further advance her teaching, Ms. Gunther continues to take pedagogical courses, including John White’s Vaganova Syllabus Seminar at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet.

VANINA HILAIRE

VANINA HILAIRE, a native New Yorker holds a B.F.A in Dance from Adelphi University, and an M.A. in Dance Education from New York University Steinhardt. Vanina is a license certificated dance educator currently working for the Department of Education. Vanina has served on the faculties at Studio E School of Dance, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, and Eglevsky Ballet. She is also a member of the Foot and Fiddle Dance Company and World Dance Theatre.

JENNIFER KREICHMAN

Ballet

Jennifer Kreichman began her ballet studies under Virginia and Jacques Cesbron and continued her training at the School of American Ballet, the American Ballet Theater School and Ballet Hispanico of New York. She was the youngest recipient of a full scholarship to attend the Harkness House for Ballet Arts under David Howard. She has appeared with New York Dance Theater, Eglevsky Ballet, the Israel Ballet and the Nashville Ballet. Ms. Kreichman is proud to have been invited to join the faculty of the Eglevsky Ballet under the directorship of Maurice Brandon Curry. In addition she serves on the Adelphi University Department of Dance faculty as professor of ballet technique, pointe and classical repertoire, and as assistant to the Department of dance chair, Frank Augustyn. She has taught on the faculty of the New York Dance Theater, Ballet Academy East, American Theater Dance Workshop and has served as ballet mistress for the New York Dance Theater. Her students have gone on to perform with the Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico of New York, MOMIX and the Youth America Grand Prix Gala; have appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning, Billy Elliot the Musical, in national touring companies and have been accepted into prestigious dance academies such as the JKO School at American Ballet Theater and the School of American Ballet. Jennifer Kreichman is an ABT® National Training Curriculum Certified Teacher; Primary-Level 7 and is a certified Pilates instructor having completed her certification under the tutelage of Brett Howard, Director of Education of the United States Pilates AssociationTM

CRAIG DONNELLY

Contemporary

Craig Donnelly has had the privilege of performing all over the continent, with the international tours of A CHORUS LINE (U/S Mike, Mark & Larry) and CATS (Swing). His regional theater performing credits include THE WIZARD OF OZ (Westchester Broadway Theater), WEST SIDE STORY (Gateway Playhouse), CATS (Theatre By The Sea & Tuacahn Amphitheater), TARZAN (Tuacahn Amphitheater), CRAZY FOR YOU (Tuacahn Amphitheater), MARY POPPINS (North Shore Music Theatre & Theatre By The Sea), SHE LOVES ME (CLOSBC), OKLAHOMA! (CLOSBC) AND SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL(CLOSBC).

ERIC THIELMAN

Modern

Eric Thielman began his primary dance training with Maria SpagnolaTorrence and continued at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. His training continued with various teachers throughout the country. Most notably, he has studied at the Virginia School of the Arts, University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. As a performer, Mr. Thielman has appeared in the national tour of Contact, choreographed by Susan Stroman. Other favorite performances include A Christmas Carol at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Adventures In Wonderland with the NOLA Project, Taylor Mac’s The Lily’s Revenge with the Southern Rep Theater as well as appearances at the New Orleans Fringe, MarignyOpera House and as a featured dancer with Tsunami Dance.

Eric has served as a faculty member at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, a performing arts magnet high school. Additionally, he has taught at USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the New Orleans Ballet Association, Dancing Grounds New Orleans, and workshops for the New York State Theater Educators Alliance as well as the Joffrey Ballet School.

Currently, Eric Thielman is a member of the resident faculty at Eglevsky Balletand is also pursuing a BFA in Documentary Film/Television Production.

ASHLEY TUTTLE

Resident Guest Artist

Ashley Tuttle was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre at the age of 16. As a prima ballerina with ABT, Ms. Tuttle‘s career spanned 17 years. She is known for her pure classicism and vivid characterizations. Her performances prove memorable and enriching. Ms. Tuttle’s repertoire at A.B.T. included such roles as Juliet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, the title roles in Giselle, Nikiya in Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadere, Odette/Odile in Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake. Her repertoire ranged from works by George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Jiri Kylian, Mark Morris, Agnes De Mille, Antony Tudor and William Forsythe to name a few. Ms. Tuttle has danced numerous Twyla Tharp works including In the Upper Room, Brief Fling, Sinatra Suite and Push Comes to Shove.

While maintaining her career with A.B.T., Ms. Tuttle joined the acclaimed Twlya Tharp Dance Company in 2000. During her time with T.T.D., Ms. Tharp created the hit Broadway show “Movin’ Out” and the role of Judy on her. Her interpretation of this role earned her both TONY Award and Fred Astaire Dance Award nominations.

Ms. Tuttle’s recent works include Tharp’s “Come FlyAway” on Broadway, Metropolitan Opera House’s Carmen, guest performances with Dance Theater of Harlem, Pam Tanowitz Dance and Lynne Taylor Corbett. She continues to dance as a guest artist throughout the world.

Ms. Tuttle has been a volunteer ballet teacher at Groove With Me, a Harlem-based dance school focused on children at risk. She joined the Board of Directors of Groove With Me in 2007.

Ms. Tuttle also teaches ballet at the Mark Morris Dance Group, Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, School at Steps, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Princeton University, Dartmouth College and Barnard College. Through educating students and staging ballets, she has truly found hear voice as a teacher and enjoys sharing her knowledge of dance with all ages.

Ms. Tuttle was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Wofford College in the spring of 2011.

Chris began his ballet training with the Ovations Dance Repertory Company in 1999 where he studied under the direction of Orlando Pena. Chris performed in their productions of “The Nutcracker Suite”, most notable roles being Snow King and Male Dew. He went on to receive undergraduate dance training on scholarship from Adelphi University and SUNY Fredonia but ultimately holds a degree in Music Education. During his time in college he performed the works of Frederick Earl Mosley, Aszure Barton, Orion Duckstein, James Kinney, and Paul Mockovak, among others. He has training from the summer programs at Steps on Broadway, Joffrey Ballet, and Alvin Ailey. He is a guest artist at New York Dance Theater and Ovations Dance Repertoire Company. He recently joined Homo Veritas Dance Theater as a company member in 2016. Currently he is a music teacher while he continues to pursue hisdance career.